Adjustable gage.



PATENTED MAR. 6. 1906.

J. E. GIFFIN.

ADJUSTABLE GAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV 20 1905 2 SHEETS-$151531 l.

wuewkoz if W Z Z 2 1 0 c J W PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906 J. B. GIPFIN.

ADJUSTABLE GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. I1 -li M Jojuz Z. az m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed November 20, 1905. Serial No. 288,234.

To aZZ whom, it Wmy con/corn.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. GIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Juniata, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Gages; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable gages designed, primarily, for the use of stair-builders and carpenters.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and convenient device of this character by means of which boards may be measured and marked to cause them to fit perfectly when put together to form stairs or other structures.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel fea tures. of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved gage in its folded position. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the gage, showing it adjusted for measuring the neat length and bevel or flare of treads of stairs or similar measures. Fig. 3 is a view of the gage, showing it adjusted for measuring the length of risers of stairs with the bevel or flare of such risers. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gage. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail transverse sectlonal views, and Fig 7 is a perspective view of the extensible member or blade.

Referring to the drawings bynumeral, 1 denotes my improved adjustable gage, which is especially adapted for the use of stair-builders and carpenters and which may be constructed entirely of metal or of wood and metal, as shown. The gage consists of two end members or sections 2 3, which are adjustably connected by a central member or section 4 and which have at their ends adjustable blades 5 6. The member or section 4 is here shown in the form ofa metal plate formed with a longitudinally-extending slot or opening 7, which extends from a point adjacent to one end to a point adjacent to its other end, at which is formed a pivot-opening 8. The end members 2 3 are here shown in the form of rectangular blocks, which have their outer faces adjacent. to each end faced by metal plates 9. Each of said. members 2 3 is formed adjacent to one of its faces with a longitudinally-extending slot or opening 10, in which the member 4 is adapted to slide and fold. Said member 4 is pivotally mounted in the outer end of the slot 10 in the member 2 by a set screw 11, which is passed through a transverse opening in said member 2 and through the pivot-opening 8 in the member 4. This set-screw has its threaded end engaged with screw-threads 12, formed in one of the face or wear plates 9, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The member or plate 4, being thus pivoted in the member 2, is adapted to fold into its slot 10 when the gage is closed to its folded position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The member 4 is adjustably pivoted in one end of the member 3 by means of a setscrew 13, which is similar to the screw 8, and passed through an opening in the member 3 and the slot 7 in the member 4. When this set-screw is loosened, it will be seen that the members 3 "may be adjusted toward and from each other and angularly, if desired, and then firmly secured in their adjusted position by tightening said set-screw.

The blades 5 6 are, as shown, in the form of rectangular. metal plates having their outer ends slightly beveled and their inner ends formed with pivot-openings 1 4. These blades are pivotally mounted in the outer or free ends of the members 2 3 by set-screws 15 16, which are similar to the screws 11 13, and which pass through transverse openings in the ends of the members 2 3 and through the pivot-openings 14 in said blades. The latter are disposed in longitudinally-extending slots 17, formed in the members 2 3 adjacent to one of their sides. When these blades are not in use, they are adapted to be folded into the slots 17, from which they may be readily removed by inserting the finger in notches or recesses 18 and beneath the beveled outer ends of said blades, as will be readily seen .upon reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. By

means of the set-screws 15 16 it will be seen that the blades may be clamped in any position in the members 2 3.

In order to hold the gage upon the board or other object while the latter is being marked, I provide upon each of the members 2 3 a spur or projection 19. The latter is in the form of a small metal plate embedded in one face of said member and secured therein by small nails or the like 20.

The construction, use, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings.

It will be seen that when the device is folded as shown in Fig. 1 it is extremely compact,

' so that it may be carried conveniently, and

that by loosening the set-screws 11 13 and pulling the two end members 2 3 apart the latter may be adjusted according to the use to which it is to be put. When this is done, the set-screws 15 16 are loosened. and the blades 5 6 swung out and adjusted as desired. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the gage is shown as adjusted for measuring the neat length and bevel or flare of treads of stairs and in Fig. 3 as adjusted for measuring the length of risers of stairs, with the bevel or flare of the same. It will be understood that after the parts are properly adjusted the gage is placed upon the board to be cut. The board is then scribed or marked and the gage removed, so that the board may be out along the mark and a true and perfect fit thereby secured.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the prin ciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. A gage ol' the character described comprising end members having longitudinal slots opening at their opposite ends, a central member adjustably connecting said end members and pivotally mounted in the slots opening at the adjacent ends of the same, and blades adjustably pivoted in the slots opening at the opposite ends of said end members.

2. A gage of the character described comprising end members having longitudinal slots opening at their opposite ends, a central member adj ustably connecting said end members and pivotally mounted in the slots opening at the adjacent ends of the same, blades adjustably pivoted in the slots opening at the opposite ends of said end members, and spurs upon said end members.

3. A gage of the character described comprising two end members having parallel longitudnally-extending slots opening at opposite ends of the same, a slotted member pivoted by a set-screw in one of the slots in one of said end members and adjustably pivoted by a set-screw in the corresponding slot of the other of said end members, and blades pivoted by means of set-screws in the other slots of said end members, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN E. GIFFIN. Witnesses:

ELLA M. SHAW, W. N. BAYLES. 

